Even if you go the JDS route, you'll still need to find a shul. August is a tough month as many kids are still at camp. Then of course we roll into the holidays. The best way to find a community is to show up.

Where is the soon to be 5 yr old going to preschool next year? That's also a great way to find your community.

Har Shalom
Bnai Israel
Bnai Tzedek

Not sure why you would wait to join a synagogue if you want a community for your kids. It is already there. Your choice of school shouldn't matter. Many JDS families belong to shuls. If you want your kids to be Bar/Bat Mitzvahed, you would still need to join a synagogue, they just wouldn't have to attend Hebrew School. They would still do tutoring for their Bar/bat Mitzvah.

Please do a search on this forum - this question has been asked a lot, and recently so there's a ton of good info already here.

We are debating whether to send our kids to JDS (oldest is turning 5) or join a shul and do Hebrew school. I'm not sure if it's too early to start looking at shuls, but I want to feel like we have a Jewish community set up for our kids if we opt to send them to public school.

Can you recommened your shul and/or Hebrew school? We are looking for a traditional, conservative shul near Rockville.
Thanks!